The Tamarod (Rebel) movement launched a campaign on Thursday expressing support for the constitution and urging citizens to take part in the upcoming referendum.
The campaign was announced via a statement on Tamarod’s official Facebook page, using the slogan “Yes to the constitution.”
“The Constitution is not the best ever, but it is better than the 1971 and 2012 constitutions,” the statement read. “[It] secures the rights of the worker, the farmer, the teacher, and all segments of the Egyptian people.”
The group, which had two of its members appointed to the constitutional committee, said the decision was made through meetings between movement officials, governorate sector representatives and committee officials, as well as the political bureau.
The statement expressed reservations about Article 174’s allowance of military trial of civilians, but the group said these qualms were tempered by the identification of specific conditions for such a trial in the article's text–“direct assault against the armed forces,” and by real gains regarding social justice, rights and freedoms, and the disabled.
“The battle for the constitution will be a continuation of the implementation of the will of the Egyptian people that was in the road map and victory of the January revolution and extended on June 30 against the forces of darkness and terror.”
The constitution has rallied other groups who oppose it for two main reasons: enshrining the strength of the military and allowing military trials for civilians.
The Strong Egypt Party, led by Abdel Moniem Abou el Fotouh, as well as the April 6 Youth Movement, led by Ahmed Maher, have both come out against the constitution and are urging Egyptians for a “no” vote. They are concerned about the article which requires the approval of the army before dismissing the defense minister, as well as allowing military trials for civilians if they are determined to be a threat to the army.
The groups also criticized the new constitution for giving the president strong powers to dissolve parliament after a referendum.
